2.12.2014   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 346/56

(1)

Avian influenza is an infectious viral disease in birds, including poultry. Infections with avian influenza viruses in domestic poultry cause two main forms of that disease that are distinguished by their virulence. The low pathogenic form generally only causes mild symptoms, while the highly pathogenic form results in very high mortality rates in most poultry species. That disease may have a severe impact on the profitability of poultry farming.

(2)

Avian influenza is mainly found in birds, but under certain circumstances infections can also occur in humans even though the risk is generally very low.

(3)

In the event of an outbreak of avian influenza, there is a risk that the disease agent might spread to other holdings where poultry or other captive birds are kept. As a result it may spread from one Member State to other Member States or to third countries through trade in live birds or their products.

(4)

Council Directive 2005/94/EC (3) sets out certain preventive measures relating to the surveillance and the early detection of avian influenza and the minimum control measures to be applied in the event of an outbreak of that disease in poultry or other captive birds. That Directive provides for the establishment of protection and surveillance zones in the event of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

(5)

Following the notification by Germany of an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza of subtype H5N8 in a turkey fattening holding in the commune of Heinrichswalde, in the district of Vorpommern-Greifswald in the Land Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, on 5 November 2014, Commission Implementing Decision 2014/778/EU (4) was adopted.

(6)

Implementing Decision 2014/778/EU provides that the protection and surveillance zones established by Germany, in accordance with Directive 2005/94/EC, are to comprise at least the areas listed as protection and surveillance zones in the Annex to that Implementing Decision. Implementing Decision 2014/778/EU is to apply until 22 December 2014.

(7)

The interim protective measures put in place following the outbreak in Germany have now been reviewed within the framework of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed.

(8)

In order to prevent any unnecessary disturbance to trade within the Union and to avoid unjustified barriers to trade being imposed by third countries, it is necessary to define the protection and surveillance zones established in Germany at Union level in collaboration with that Member State and to fix the duration of that regionalisation. In addition, the boundaries of the areas listed in the Annex to Implementing Decision 2014/778/EU need to be amended slightly in order to enlarge the surveillance zone and to take better account of certain administrative boundaries in that Member State.

(9)

For the sake of clarity, Implementing Decision 2014/778/EU should be repealed.

(10)

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,